PN Adult Medical Surgical Online Practice 2020A – Complete Rewritten Questions, Answers, and Rationales Study
PageGuide!!!!
1
PN Adult Medical Surgical Online
Practice 2020A – Complete
Rewritten Questions, Answers, and
Rationales Study Guide
Question 1
A nurse is assisting with the care of a client who is postoperative following a total knee
arthroplasty and is using a continuous passive motion (CPM) machine. Which intervention
should be included in the client's plan of care?
Answer:
Place a sheepskin pad between the client's extremity and the CPM machine.
Explanation:
A protective pad prevents skin friction and pressure injury while the limb moves in the CPM
device. Postoperative orthopedic clients are at risk for skin breakdown due to immobility and
equipment pressure.
Question 2
A nurse is developing a plan of care for a client who is at risk for osteoporosis. Which
intervention should be recommended to prevent bone loss?
Answer:
Encourage the client to perform weight-bearing exercises.
Explanation:
Weight-bearing activities stimulate bone formation and help maintain bone density. These
exercises reduce the risk of osteoporosis and fractures.
Question 3
A nurse is caring for a client who has peripheral arterial disease affecting the lower
extremities. Which intervention should be included in the plan of care?
Answer:
Dangle the client's legs off the side of the bed.
3/11/2026 3/11/2026 3/11/2026
,PN Adult Medical Surgical Online Practice 2020A – Complete Rewritten Questions, Answers, and Rationales Study
PageGuide!!!!
2
Explanation:
Dangling the legs promotes arterial blood flow to the lower extremities through gravity and
helps reduce ischemic pain associated with peripheral arterial disease.
Question 4
A nurse is reinforcing teaching for a client with asthma regarding the use of budesonide and
albuterol inhalers. Which statements indicate correct understanding? (Select all that apply.)
Answers:
I rinse my mouth after using my budesonide inhaler.
I keep a record of how often I use my albuterol inhaler.
I use my albuterol inhaler before exercising or swimming.
Explanation:
Budesonide is a corticosteroid inhaler that can cause oral candidiasis, so rinsing the mouth
after use is important. Albuterol is a rescue bronchodilator that can be used before exercise
and tracked to monitor asthma control.
Question 5
A client receiving chemotherapy reports mouth sores and decreased appetite. Which dietary
suggestion should the nurse provide?
Answer:
Eat several small meals throughout the day.
Explanation:
Small, frequent meals are easier to tolerate when clients experience nausea, taste changes,
or mouth sores due to chemotherapy.
Question 6
A nurse is collecting data from a client with heart failure who is taking digoxin. Which
therapeutic outcome should the nurse expect?
Answer:
Decreased shortness of breath.
Explanation:
Digoxin increases myocardial contractility and improves cardiac output, which helps reduce
symptoms such as dyspnea in clients with heart failure.
3/11/2026 3/11/2026 3/11/2026
, PN Adult Medical Surgical Online Practice 2020A – Complete Rewritten Questions, Answers, and Rationales Study
PageGuide!!!!
3
Question 7
A nurse is monitoring a client who has been prescribed acarbose for diabetes. Which finding
should the nurse recognize as an adverse effect?
Answer:
Abdominal cramps.
Explanation:
Acarbose slows carbohydrate digestion in the intestines, which commonly causes
gastrointestinal side effects such as abdominal pain, bloating, and diarrhea.
Question 8
A nurse is caring for a client who recently experienced a left hemispheric stroke. Which
intervention should be included in the plan of care?
Answer:
Use simple verbal instructions when directing tasks.
Explanation:
Left hemisphere strokes often affect language comprehension and expression. Short and
simple instructions help the client understand directions.
Question 9
A nurse is reinforcing discharge teaching about wound care. Which instruction should be
included?
Answer:
Report any purulent drainage to the provider.
Explanation:
Purulent drainage is a sign of infection and should be reported immediately for evaluation
and treatment.
Question 10
A nurse is teaching a client with diabetes about glycosylated hemoglobin testing. Which
statement indicates understanding?
Answer:
I should have my HbA1c checked twice a year.
Explanation:
HbA1c measures average blood glucose levels over the past 2 to 3 months and is typically
monitored every 6 months in clients with stable diabetes.
3/11/2026 3/11/2026 3/11/2026
PageGuide!!!!
1
PN Adult Medical Surgical Online
Practice 2020A – Complete
Rewritten Questions, Answers, and
Rationales Study Guide
Question 1
A nurse is assisting with the care of a client who is postoperative following a total knee
arthroplasty and is using a continuous passive motion (CPM) machine. Which intervention
should be included in the client's plan of care?
Answer:
Place a sheepskin pad between the client's extremity and the CPM machine.
Explanation:
A protective pad prevents skin friction and pressure injury while the limb moves in the CPM
device. Postoperative orthopedic clients are at risk for skin breakdown due to immobility and
equipment pressure.
Question 2
A nurse is developing a plan of care for a client who is at risk for osteoporosis. Which
intervention should be recommended to prevent bone loss?
Answer:
Encourage the client to perform weight-bearing exercises.
Explanation:
Weight-bearing activities stimulate bone formation and help maintain bone density. These
exercises reduce the risk of osteoporosis and fractures.
Question 3
A nurse is caring for a client who has peripheral arterial disease affecting the lower
extremities. Which intervention should be included in the plan of care?
Answer:
Dangle the client's legs off the side of the bed.
3/11/2026 3/11/2026 3/11/2026
,PN Adult Medical Surgical Online Practice 2020A – Complete Rewritten Questions, Answers, and Rationales Study
PageGuide!!!!
2
Explanation:
Dangling the legs promotes arterial blood flow to the lower extremities through gravity and
helps reduce ischemic pain associated with peripheral arterial disease.
Question 4
A nurse is reinforcing teaching for a client with asthma regarding the use of budesonide and
albuterol inhalers. Which statements indicate correct understanding? (Select all that apply.)
Answers:
I rinse my mouth after using my budesonide inhaler.
I keep a record of how often I use my albuterol inhaler.
I use my albuterol inhaler before exercising or swimming.
Explanation:
Budesonide is a corticosteroid inhaler that can cause oral candidiasis, so rinsing the mouth
after use is important. Albuterol is a rescue bronchodilator that can be used before exercise
and tracked to monitor asthma control.
Question 5
A client receiving chemotherapy reports mouth sores and decreased appetite. Which dietary
suggestion should the nurse provide?
Answer:
Eat several small meals throughout the day.
Explanation:
Small, frequent meals are easier to tolerate when clients experience nausea, taste changes,
or mouth sores due to chemotherapy.
Question 6
A nurse is collecting data from a client with heart failure who is taking digoxin. Which
therapeutic outcome should the nurse expect?
Answer:
Decreased shortness of breath.
Explanation:
Digoxin increases myocardial contractility and improves cardiac output, which helps reduce
symptoms such as dyspnea in clients with heart failure.
3/11/2026 3/11/2026 3/11/2026
, PN Adult Medical Surgical Online Practice 2020A – Complete Rewritten Questions, Answers, and Rationales Study
PageGuide!!!!
3
Question 7
A nurse is monitoring a client who has been prescribed acarbose for diabetes. Which finding
should the nurse recognize as an adverse effect?
Answer:
Abdominal cramps.
Explanation:
Acarbose slows carbohydrate digestion in the intestines, which commonly causes
gastrointestinal side effects such as abdominal pain, bloating, and diarrhea.
Question 8
A nurse is caring for a client who recently experienced a left hemispheric stroke. Which
intervention should be included in the plan of care?
Answer:
Use simple verbal instructions when directing tasks.
Explanation:
Left hemisphere strokes often affect language comprehension and expression. Short and
simple instructions help the client understand directions.
Question 9
A nurse is reinforcing discharge teaching about wound care. Which instruction should be
included?
Answer:
Report any purulent drainage to the provider.
Explanation:
Purulent drainage is a sign of infection and should be reported immediately for evaluation
and treatment.
Question 10
A nurse is teaching a client with diabetes about glycosylated hemoglobin testing. Which
statement indicates understanding?
Answer:
I should have my HbA1c checked twice a year.
Explanation:
HbA1c measures average blood glucose levels over the past 2 to 3 months and is typically
monitored every 6 months in clients with stable diabetes.
3/11/2026 3/11/2026 3/11/2026
